WINONA, Minn. — Through the first 14 games of the season,
Connor Kaiser (Rockland, Wis.) had scored more than 10 points three times for the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota men's basketball team.
In fact, the Cardinal freshman had not eclipsed the 10-point barrier until netting 10 points against Macalester on Jan. 14. Kaiser followed that up with an 11-point showing against Carleton last Monday, before dropping a career-best 13 points against Augsburg last Saturday.
And he was just getting warmed up.
Kaiser nearly equaled his career high—in the first half—against Bethany Lutheran Monday, and went on to score a now-career-high 22 points in helping the Cardinals to an 83-73 nonconference victory over Martin Luther at the Saint Mary's Gym.
Kaiser wasn't the only Cardinal enjoying a career night against the Knights, either, as
Will Swiggum (St. Charles, Minn.) equaled his career best, pouring in a game-high 24 points in helping Saint Mary's put an end to its six-game losing streak.
Kaiser and Swiggum were a perfect 1-2 combination in the game's opening 20 minutes, as the Cardinal duo accounted for 24 of the team's 43 first-half points. Kaiser did not miss a field goal in the first half—going 5-for-5 from the field with a pair of 3-pointers—in scoring 12 points, while Swiggum went 6-for-10 from the field en route to his 12 first-half points.
The Cardinals led by as many as five points in the game's opening 20 minutes, while the visiting Knights held leads as big as eight—boasting a 33-25 advantage with less than seven minutes remaining.
Over those final seven minutes, however, the Cardinals outscored Martin Luther 18-7 to take a 43-40 advantage into the locker room at the break.
An advantage Saint Mary's would not relinquish.
The Cardinals built their lead to 10, 65-55, with eight minutes remaining in regulation, withstood a 10-2 MLC run that whittled the lead down to two, 67-65, and outscored the Knights 16-8 down the stretch to ice the victory.
Swiggum went 4-for-6 from the field and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line over the final 20 minutes en route to his game- and career-best 24 points, while Kaiser followed up his perfect first half with a 2-for-5 showing from the field—including his third 3-pointer—and a 4 of 5 effort from the charity stripe.
Mark Schumacher (Perham, Minn.) also finished in double figures for Saint Mary's, as the sophomore finished with 12 points.
Todd Brassow led four Knights in double figures with 22 points, while Michael Paulsen chipped in 19, and Luke Rothe and Josh Lindner each finished with 10.
The Cardinals (3-12 overall) return to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Wednesday, traveling to Hamline's Hutton Arena in St. Paul, Minn., for a 7 p.m. game against the Pipers.
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